Grapevine, &#34;Emperatriz&#34;

ABSTRACT

A grapevine particularly characterized by its grapes which are generally similar to those of the Emperor (unpatented) grapevine having the late ripening, color, flavor and storage characteristics of the Emperor from which it is distinguished by a marked ability to benefit from the application of gibberellic acid thereon to improve the size and quality of the berries and which displays the seedless characteristics of the Thompson seedless grapevine.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of grapevineto be known as the Emperatriz and more particularly to a grapevine whichis generally similar to the Emperor (unpatented) grapevine but fromwhich it is distinguished in several significant respects subsequentlydescribed.

The well-known Emperor grapevine has long been known as one of the bestlate bearing grapevines. Its fruit has desired color and stores andships well when refrigerated. These and other characteristics haveinsured the Emperor grapevine an important place in the late marketingof grapes.

A substantial part of the applicant's professional life has been devotedto the creation of new and distinct varieties of grapevines. The presentvariety resulted from such efforts. The applicant has regularly selectedgrapevines having desired characteristics and cross-pollinated theselected grapevines to produce progeny of improved characteristics. Forexample, in the creation of the instant variety of grapevine, an objectof the present invention was to perpetuate the desirable characteristicsof the Emperor grapevine and the Thompson seedless (unpatented)grapevine.

Another object was to provide a grapevine having the late ripening, goodcolor, excellent flavor, excellent storage and shipping characteristicsof the Emperor grapevine and the seedless characteristics of theThompson seedless grapevine. Further, it is the usual practice to applygibberellic acid to grapevines intended to produce fresh grapes in orderto improve the size and quality of the berries. It has long been knownthat the application of gibberellic acid to Emperor grapevines hasslight effect but application thereof to Thompson seedless grapevineshas a very marked ability to increase the size and quality of theberries. Another object was, therefore, to produce a new variety ofgrapevine which has the desirable characteristics of the Emperorgrapevine and at the same time is susceptible to gibberellic acid toimprove the size and quality of the berries.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The applicant cross-pollinated an Emperor grapevine with a Thompsonseedless grapevine at a test plot near Rama, Caida, Argentina. Theresultant progeny were grown to an extent sufficient to determine theircharacteristics. The subject variety was selected by the applicant forits desirable characteristics and asexually reproduced by the applicantby budding into host grapevines and by rooting cuttings. In bothinstances the characteristics of the grapevines resulting from suchasexual reproduction proved identical to those of the original hybrid.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The subject variety of grapevine is best characterized by itsperpetuation of the desirable characteristics of the Emperor grapevinebut displays the important distinctions of ripening approximately sevendays earlier than the Emperor grapevine grown under the same culturaland climatic conditions. The new variety is seedless. The new variety ishighly susceptible to the desirable effects of gibberellic acid.

In many instances, if untreated by gibberellic acid, the subject varietyand the regular Emperor display substantially identical coloration, thesame loose bunches with a very wide variety of berry sizes while if theyare grown under substantially identical conditions but both treated withgibberellic acid, the regular Emperor displays virtually no beneficialresults of the gibberellic acid while the grapevine of the instantapplication treated with gibberellic acid is particularly characterizedby the uniformity in size, color and shape of the resultant berries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph of a bunch of grapes ofthe subject variety and a pair of characteristic leaves thereof showingtheir front and back sides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of the new anddistinct variety of grapevine, the following has been observed under theecological conditions prevailing in the applicant's test plot near Rama,Caida, Argentina.

All major color code plate identifications having parenthetical numeralsare by reference to the Dictionary of Color by A. Maerz and M. Paul,Second Edition, published in 1950. Where the color code plateidentification is beyond the range of such dictionary, common colornames are used and no code identification numerals parentheticallyprovided.

VINE

Size: Large.

Growth: Vigorous.

Productivity: Heavy, regular bearer.

Canes: Stout

Joints.--Spaced more than usual.

Tendrils.--Short, scarce, delicate.

Color.--Light green (23-9).

Growing tip: Woolly, green (23-9), without red-carmine (31-13) halocharacteristics of Emperor grapevine.

Herbaceous stem: Glabrous, slightly red-carmine (31-13).

FOLIAGE

Upper young leaves: With cobwebby indument in both sides of the leaf,more intense on the underside.

Lower young leaves: Contorted; glabrous in the upper surface andcobwebby in the lower surface with a copper hue (30-12) diffused on theupper surface.

Mature leaf: Very contorted, with tendency to involute; large;orbicular; smooth light green (22-11), a bit glossy, medium five-lobed,with lower lobes inconspicuous.

Indument: Almost glabrous.

Petiolar sinus: "V" shape; narrow; the lower lobes partiallyoverlapping, giving the impression of holes punched in the leaves.

Petiolar junction: The base of the veins intensely colored of violet redhue.

BLOSSOMS

Blooms: March 15 to March 24 in the Northern Hemisphere and September 15to September 24 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Flowers: Abundant.

Length of blooming season.--Approximately ten days.

Color.--The same as the well-known Emperor grapevine; principally whitewith slight green hue.

Reproductive organs: Medium to abundant.

FRUIT

Maturity in southern hemisphere: March 25.

Maturity in northern hemisphere: September 25.

Harvest in southern hemisphere: Mid March to mid June.

Harvest in northern hemisphere: Mid September to mid December.

Color: Pink to reddish (41-14) widely varied.

Shape: Ovoid.

Size of berries: Medium and widely varied unless treated withgibberellic acid.

Average diameters: 16 mm.

Average base to apex: 20 mm.

Average number of clusters to vine: 25.

Average number of berries to cluster: 300.

Number of seeds to berry: Average 2 soft seeds or "false seeds".

Productivity: Heavy.

Clusters ripen: Unevenly unless previously treated with gibberellicacid.

Aroma: Excellent.

Taste: With a touch of plum, not very sweet, acid, tasty.

Eating quality: Excellent.

Juice quality: Excellent.

Shipping and storing qualities: Excellent.

Uses: Fresh table grapes, raisins and wine.

General appearance: Excellent if first treated with gibberellic acid.

Climatic preference: Not recommended for cool regions because of shortvegetative cycle.

Competition: Ripens when no other comparable grapevines ripen.

RAISINS MADE FROM SUBJECT VARIETY

General appearance: Good.

Color: Widely varied, from yellowish to light violet.

Shape: Substantially spherical but slightly elongated, ovoid.

Size: Medium.

Length: Medium, 13.1 mm.

Smallest: 11 mm.

Biggest: 16 mm. (average of 10 raisins).

Width: Medium, 9.8 mm.

Smallest: 8 mm.

Biggest: 12 mm. (average of 10 raisins).

Uniformity of size: Medium dispersion.

Weight of 100 raisins: 45.5 grams.

Skin consistency: Soft, leaves no residue when chewed.

Seed remnant: It is perceived in very few raisins.

Although the new variety of grapevine possesses the describedcharacteristics as a result of the growing conditions prevailing inRama, Caida, Argentina, it is to be understood that variations of theusual magnitude in characteristics incident to growing conditions,fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of grapevine, Iclaim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine to be known as theEmperatriz substantially as illustrated and described, characterizedprincipally by its production of seedless berries which matureapproximately a week earlier than those of the Emperor grapevine, whichit most nearly resembles, but from which it is distinguished by theberries being somewhat smaller and more nearly spherical than theberries of the Emperor, looser bunches which are much more susceptibleto the action of gibberellic acid to enlarge the berries and to fill outthe bunches than is the Emperor which has little or no reaction togibberellic acid.